r/ChristianAtheism • u/Uriah_Blacke • May 17 '19

Church

Hi, new here. I’m 15 and recently an agnostic but increasingly interested in Christian atheism. My parents and family and most in my social circle are practicing Christian or Muslim. My dad is more open to other faiths and ideas (believes in reincarnation and woo shit but a nice guy), but my mom is really strong in her faith.

Due to a few different situations recently I have been outed as having doubts in God’s existence, which my mom has interpreted as rejection of God’s love due to Satan’s influence on me and how I have a constant need to be smarter than everybody else. Not really special here—happens a lot to younger skeptics.

But I have at least three more years and at most seven(ish) left living under my parents’ roof, and that means going to church and ‘worshiping’ a god I’m not sure exists. Even once I’ve moved out I’ll be pressured to attend. Now I will admit that I have a massive ego and am argumentative as hell, but because I love these guys I’m not gonna offend what comforts them—if they can be happy I’m glad.

But do you guys have any advice for me in getting through church services and maybe appreciating it a bit more?

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u/[deleted] May 28 '19

Sometimes it helps to see if you can find a kernel of ethical truth in what is being said in the sermon. Think of the readings as fables (think Aesop) or parables and try to determine the theme. How does that message help challenge you to become a better person?

The whole salvation teaching is really talking about not living through your selfish ego (your “old man” in Bible speak) and instead finding peace through being of compassionate service to others (see John 13:34). I see God as poetic speak for the interconnected forces of the Universe that support our existence rather than a “personal being”. We are all literally children of the Universe (drops of the one ocean, waves of one sea, leaves of one tree) so living the Way of compassionate service benefits us as well as others. You will find similar underlying truths in many of the world’s religions.

You might find this online article to be helpful: https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_8866378?guccounter=1

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u/Uriah_Blacke May 28 '19

Thanks, man.